NEWSWEEK’s Jason Lemon reported on June 19, 2018, that Russia’s response to Washington that the U.S. government has “no moral right” to demand that Russia release religious or political prisoners – including detained Jehovah’s Witnesses. The U.S. State Department responded by issuing a statement calling on Russia to release more than 150 prisoners being held for “religious or political reasons.”
That demand came as a response to Moscow’s rounding up Jehovah’s Witnesses throughout the country.
The US demand also specified the release of Dennis Christensen. Christensen is a Danish Jehovah’s Witness citizen detained for over a year due to his affiliation with the religious group.
Jarrod Lopes, a communications representative based at the New York World Headquarters of Jehovah’s Witnesses, told NEWSWEEK that at least twenty Witnesses are known to be detained in Russia. Others are known to be under house arrest or forced to sign agreements promising not to leave the area where they reside.
This frustrating situation for all involved – thanks to the crackdown against Jehovah’s Witnesses has drawn the attention of not only the Watchtower but also other religious groups that have policies and beliefs that are not acceptable to the Russian government and the unofficial “state religion” – the Russian Orthodox.
I know a woman who is from Russia who told me she was raped by a Russian Orthodox priest when her mother brought her to him for confession as a teenager. There are sex offenders in every religion.
I know a woman who got her US citizenship by claiming she was a political refugee (lie) from Russia who told me she was raped by a Russian Orthodox priest when her mother brought her to him for a confession as a teenager. There are garden variety sex offenders that are crazy beyond repair in every religion.
If they have committed crimes against humanity or they have been an accessory after the crime (hiding crimes against humanity from the police), then the Russian Government has every right to throw them in prison. Sorry, but if they are going to cover for sex offenders they are going to have to pay the price.
When I first became aware of the crackdown, I thought it was a shame that the JW’s were being denied their freedoms and that the Russian government was in the wrong in doing so. But upon further reflection I’ve see that I was wrong because there is a bigger issue here. You are absolutely right on all points. The atrocities in this organization have gone on far too long. There remains no excuse for them if, tragically, they close their eyes and allow the evil being done to remain within this cult. Even if they were banned for religious or political reasons, at least the pedophiles have lost another hiding place and the apologists can just go suffer along with them.
I was raised in this religion and am involved in a prominent position. I have served 4 circuits in the Spanish field. I have come to the realization that to be a good JW, you must surrender your conscience and humanity. Protecting the image and authority of the Governing Body is the priority even if it means covering up pedophiles and committing injustices. Anyone who has the courage to speak up and stand up against the authority of the local elders or especially the Watchtower, will suffer consequences.